Lighting system

Abstract

A system 10 is disclosed for connecting an electrical device such as a lighting element 50 to a power source 11. The electrical device includes electrical couplings 55, 56 in the form of metallised strips which are operative to form a capacitive coupling with respective conductive elements 24 disposed in an array on a supporting surface. The conductive element 24 on the supporting surface are connected to the power supply. In the preferred form, the electrical device is in the form of a light tile which includes embedded LEDs 59 and control and sensing devices ( 60, 61 ) which are able to receive and transmit data via the signal path used by the power source. The lighting tile 50 is operative to be secured to the supporting surface via a magnetic force so that the tile may be simply and easily fixed to and removed from the supporting surface.

1 . A system for connecting an electrical device to a power source, the system providing for an electrical coupling between the electrical device and an energised surface associated with the power source and comprising: 
 at least two conductive elements disposed at or adjacent an exterior surface of the electrical device, and    a supporting surface including an array of conductive elements connectable to the power source to form the energised surface,    wherein the array of conductive elements and the supporting surface are arranged such that, when the electrical device is contacted with the energised surface in any one of a plurality of selected positions, the conductive elements of the electrical device make a capacitive coupling with some of the conductive elements located on the supporting surface so as to couple capacitively the electrical device to the power source.    
     
     
         2 . A lighting system comprising a lighting element and a support surface, the lighting element comprising a generally thin body having opposite first and second major surfaces, at least one lighting source mounted to the body and operative to emit light, and at least two conductive elements disposed at or adjacent to the second major surface, the supporting surface including an array of electrically conductive elements which are connectable to a power source so as to provide an energised surface, wherein the lighting element is able to be disposed in any one of a plurality of selected positions on the energised surface where at least two of the conductive elements of the supporting surface form a capacitive coupling with the at least two conductive elements of the lighting element so as to connect the lighting element to the power source.  
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  wherein an electrical insulating layer is disposed between the conductive elements of the electrical device or the lighting element and the array of conductive elements of the supporting surface.  
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the electrically insulating layer is provided as an insulating overlay on the exterior surface of the electrical device or the lighting element.  
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the insulating layer is provided as an insulating overlay disposed on the energised surface.  
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the insulating layer is provided as an insulating overlay on both the exterior surface of the electrical device or the lighting element and the energised surface.  
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 5  or  6  wherein the array of electrically conductive elements is mounted on a backing sheet which forms at least part of the insulating layer between the conductive elements of the electrical device or the lighting element and the array of conductive elements of the supporting surface.  
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the backing sheet includes a polymer sheet and wherein the array of electrical conductive elements is formed by metallised strips applied to the sheet.  
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the backing sheet comprises a paper sheet and wherein the array of electrical conductive elements is formed by metallised strips applied to the sheet.  
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising fixing means operative to releasably mount the electrical device or the lighting element on the energised surface.  
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the electrical device or the lighting element is securable to the supporting surface by a magnetic force exerted between a magnetisable material located on or in the supporting surface and a magnetisable material located on or in the electrical device or the lighting element.  
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a controller associated with the electrical device or the lighting element and operative to control a function of the electrical device or the lighting element in response to a received data signal, and wherein the data signal is operative to be transmitted to the electrical device or the lighting element via the electrical connection connecting the electrical device or the lighting element to the power source.  
     
     
         13 . The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a sensor operative to receive information, and a processor which is operative to generate and transmit a data signal in response to the received information, wherein the sensor and the processor are associated with the electrical device or the lighting element and the data signal is transmitted by the processor via the electrical connection connecting the electrical device or the lighting element to the power source.  
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the electrical device is a lighting element.  
     
     
         15 . A lighting element suitable for connection to a power source using the system as claimed in  claim 1  or any one of  claims 2  to  13  when dependent on  claim 1 , the lighting element comprising a body having opposite first and second major surfaces, at least one light source mounted to the body to emit light and at least two conductive elements disposed at or adjacent to one of the surfaces arranged to form a capacitive coupling with an energised surface.  
     
     
         16 . The lighting element as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the light source is embedded within the element body between the opposite major surfaces.  
     
     
         17 . The lighting element as claimed in  claim 15  or  16  wherein the body is formed from a laminated structure and wherein the rearmost layer includes metallised strips which form the at least two conductive elements.  
     
     
         18 . The lighting element as claimed in any one of  claims 15  to  17  wherein the at least one light source is a light emitting diode (LED).  
     
     
         19 . The lighting element as claimed in any one of  claims 15  to  17  wherein the at least one light source is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) material.  
     
     
         20 . The lighting element as claimed in claim in any one of  claims 15  to  19  further comprising a controller operative to control a function of the lighting element in response to a received data signal.  
     
     
         21 . The lighting element as claimed in any one of  claims 15  to  20  further comprising a sensor operative to receive information, and a processor which is operative to generate and transmit a data signal in response to the received information.  
     
     
         22 . The lighting element as claimed in any one of  claims 15  to  21  wherein the body also comprises a printed circuit board sub-assembly which provides mechanical support for circuitry and electrical components of the lighting element.  
     
     
         23 . The lighting element as claimed in any one of  claims 15  to  22  further comprising a magnetisable material so as to enable the lighting element to be secured to a supporting surface with suitable magnetic properties by a magnetic force.  
     
     
         24 . The lighting element as claimed in any one of  claims 15  to  23  wherein the body further comprises a front cover which forms the first major surface and which has optical characteristics to assist in light emission from the lighting element.